Summer Reading Lists

Summer Reading

Summer reading is essential to prevent regression and to prepare students for the upcoming school year. Requirements and recommended reading lists by grade level are available below. Students are also welcome to pursue their own reading interests. You can utilize local libraries, bookstores and the district’s online catalog to find books. Students will need to complete a reading log for each book they read. The reading log can be accessed with your child’s existing school Google account at the following link: Round Valley Summer Reading log. If your child is having difficulty accessing, or does not remember their username/password, please email parenthelp@ctsdnj.org.

*PLEASE NOTE: If you get a permission error when accessing the log, be sure you are not logged in to a personal Google/Gmail account. You must log out and your child needs to log in to their student account. Upon submission of the reading log, students will not be able to access/edit their responses after submission.

Incoming new students: Paper versions of the reading log are available in the Round Valley main office. Please stop by during normal summer business hours to obtain copies of the reading log. Be sure to return your reading logs on the first day of school to your homeroom teacher.

Grade 3

Dear parents and incoming third grade students,

The goal for this summer is for students to read at least 8 books of
their choice. Books often chosen by incoming third grade students are generally shorter and often, multiple books can be read in a week.

Grade 4

Dear parents and incoming fourth grade students,

The goal for this summer is for students to read at least 4 books of their choice. To prepare for fourth grade, read a series this summer and build your reading stamina. Read a book with a strong main character and develop your own ideas about the character.

Teachers’ Top Picks

Mrs. Paccione recommends the Hank Zipzer series. Hank learns differently and can’t always remember details and has many adventures with his two best friends.

Barfing In The Backseat: How I Survived My Family Road Trip
by Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver
Realistic Fiction
Level P

During a family road trip, Hank loses the homework he was supposed to finish before getting to the amusement park, causing much anxiety for Hank.

A Tale of Two Tails
by Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver
Realistic Fiction
Level P

Hank enters his dog Cheerio in a show, hoping to win the big prize. Unfortunately for Hank, Nick McKelty and his gassy little Chihuahua have the same thing in mind. Will Hank and Cheerio be able to take home the ribbon for Best in Show?

This is a fun and exciting story about the somewhat complicated, but always love driven relationship between a brother and a sister.

Here is a great series to try if you like sports!Dugout Rivals
by Fred Brown
Fiction/Sports
Level Q

Twelve-year-old Jake, who was one of his mediocre baseball team’s best players the previous season, unexpectedly finds himself overshadowed when a new player shows up and the team starts winning.

TJ’s Secret Pitch
by Fred Brown
Fiction/Sports
Level Q

In his determination to pitch for his neighborhood baseball team, twelve-year-old T.J. adopts the unorthodox style of the legendary Rip Sewell.

Other Recommendations

Ralph S. Mouse
by Beverly Clearly
Fiction
Level O

Fed up with life at the Mountain View Inn, Ralph persuades his friend Ryan to take him to school, where he is an instant hit with Ryan’s classmates and where a series of mishaps occur that threaten his life.

Runaway Ralph
by Beverly Clearly
Fiction
Level O

An adventurous mouse on his motorcycle leaves for a children’s summer camp after being teased by his family. A favorite book of Mrs.Paccione! Read the rest of the books in the series if you like this one.

Clementine’s Letter
by Sara Pennypacker
Realistic Fiction
Level O

When her favorite teacher goes on a research trip to Egypt and leaves a strict substitute behind in his place, Clementine isn’t sure whether she should be selfish and try to coax Mr. D’Matz back to school or leave him be to enjoy his adventure.

Monster Lunch
by Pat Skene
Humor/Fiction
Level O

Yummy, yucky rhyming stories and facts about food.

Coach Hyatt Is A Riot!
by Dan Gutman
Fiction
Level O

It’s Pee Wee Football season, and A.J.’s new coach is crazy. She wants the boys to do push-ups in the mud. She wants them to pick up a car. And worst of all, she wants to put girls on the team! Great series and author! Try this book and others from My Weird School Daze Series!

Linebacker Block
by Jake Maddox
Fiction/Sports
Level O

Logan moved to Westfield a year ago. This season, he’ll be playing against some of his old friends. Will they see him as a traitor? Will he be able to be loyal to his new team without making his old friends mad?

Nathan Hale: Patriot Spy
by Shannon Zemlicka
Informational
Level P

Recounts the life of Revolutionary War hero Nathan Hale, whose decision to become a spy for General George Washington cost him his life.

Relates the story of the founder of the Hershey Chocolate Company in Hershey, Pennsylvania, known for his hard work, perseverance, and charity on behalf of young people.

Thea Stilton And The Star Castaways
by Thea Stilton
Mystery
Level O

The Thea Sisters are in for a great adventure when they are invited by a professor at Mouseford Academy on a trip to the Moon. Great Mouse Series to get hooked on! Graphic features to grab your attention.

Ghosts: A Nonfiction Companion To “A Good Night For Ghosts”
Informational
Level Q

Grade 5

Dear parents and incoming fifth grade students,

The goal for this summer is for students to read at least 4 books of their choice. To prepare for fifth grade, read a series this summer and build your reading stamina. Read a book with a strong main character and develop your own ideas about the character.

Teachers’ Top Picks

I Survived Series
by Lauren Tarshis
Historical Fiction
Level S

One of Mrs. Zockoff’s top picks! This series takes you back to learn about important parts history. In 5th grade, one genre you will be reading is historical fiction. You will be learning the importance of understanding the setting and how the character reacts during the specific historical time periods.

I Survived Hurricane Katrina, 2005 I Survived The Attacks Of September 11th, 2001 I Survived The Battle Of Gettysburg, 1863 I Survived The San Francisco Earthquake, 1906 I Survived The Shark Attacks Of 1916 I Survived The Sinking Of The Titanic, 1912

The most terrifying events in history are brought vividly to life in this fictional intermediate chapter book-series. Readers will be transported by stories of amazing kids and how they survived.

While reading this book, try thinking of “what the main character’s wants, needs, and struggles are.” Think about how the main character overcomes the obstacles and struggles he faces while climbing Mt. Everest!

Four kids. One mountain. They come from all across America to be the youngest kid ever to climb Everest. But only one will reach the top first. The competition is fierce. The preparation is intense. The challenge is breathtaking. When the final four reach the higher peaks, disaster strikes — and all that separates the living from the dead is chance, bravery, and action.

Jack and Annie’s very own guide to the secrets of the universe. In 5th grade you will be studying space as wells as learning the different structures of informational text! Read this book to get a head start traveling into space!

Other Recommendations

The American Girl Series
Historical Fiction
Level Q

The American Girls Collection captivates readers with its tales of heart, hope, and history. Millions of girls have fallen in love with the series’ strong, appealing heroines.

Hector, Terrence, and Dee have always wondered about their school lunch lady. Little do they know, Lunch Lady doesn’t just serve sloppy joes she serves justice! Whatever danger lies ahead, its no match for LUNCH LADY!

Pie
by Sarah Weeks
Realistic Fiction
Level Q

When her late Aunt Polly bequeaths a surly pet cat and a coveted pie-crust recipe to her, Alice is thrust into the center of a high-stakes pie-baking contest that her mother is determined to win, a competition that helps Alice discover the true importance of family, friendship and enjoying what one does in life. By the author of So B. It.

Eleven-year-old Margaret tries to accept the inevitable changes that come one summer when her father dies and her best friend Maizon goes away to a private boarding school.

Hound Dog True
by Linda Urban
Realistic Fiction
Level S

Mattie, a shy fifth-grader, wants to hide out at her new school by acting as apprentice to her Uncle Potluck, the custodian, but her plan falls apart when she summons the courage to speak about what matters most and finds a true friend.

On October 1, 1932, during Game Three of the Chicago Cubs/New York Yankees World Series, Babe Ruth belted a long home run to straightaway center field. According to legend, just before he hit, Babe pointed to the center field bleachers and boldly predicted he would slam the next pitch there. Did he call that shot, or didn’t he? Witnesses never agreed. Joe Stoshack knows there’s one way to solve the mystery — slip back seventy years and see for himself.

When Humphrey hears that school is ending, he can’t believe his ears. What’s a classroom hamster to do if there’s no more school? It turns out that Mrs. Brisbane has planned something thrilling for Humphrey and Og the frog: they’re going to Camp Happy Hollow with Ms. Mac and lots of the kids from Room 26! Camp is full of FUN-FUN-FUN new experiences, but it’s also a little scary. There are fur-raising wild sounds and smells, and there’s something called the Howler to watch out for. Humphrey is always curious about new adventures, but could camp be too wild even for him?

My Life As A Book
by Janet Tashjian
Realistic Fiction
Level S

Dubbed a “reluctant reader” by his teacher, twelve-year-old Derek spends summer vacation learning important lessons even though he does not complete his summer reading list.

Joe Stoshack travels back in time to meet baseball great Shoeless Joe Jackson. But he comes face-to-face with gamblers trying to bribe players to deliberately lose the World Series.

The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe (Chronicles of Narnia Series)
by C.S. Lewis
Fantasy
Level T

Four English schoolchildren find their way through the back of a wardrobe into the magic land of Narnia and assist Aslan, the golden lion, in triumphing over the White Witch, who has cursed the land with eternal winter.

Grade 6

Dear parents and incoming sixth grade students,

The goal for this summer is for students to read at least 2 books of their choice in addition to Restart by Gordon Korman. To prepare for sixth grade read a series this summer and build your reading stamina. Read a book with a strong main character and develop your own ideas about the character.

Are any specific book titles required?

Yes! We’re asking every student to read Restart ​by Gordon Korman.

Will there be a project? Can I work on it this summer?

Yes, there will be a project. This summer all you need to do is read and complete your Summer Reading charts on the website. The project will be completed in school.

I am not sure what to read! What should I do?

Visit the online catalog to view book suggestions. Click on the tab Student Services and then Library Services.